Card display



Sept. 8, 1931. F, LAMB 1,822,493

CARD DISPLAY Filed May 15 19,29l

AT ORNEY Patented Sept. 8, 1931 UNITED, STA-TES ,1a-arr:NroFFl-cle;` l

FRANKLIN LAMB, F NEW` YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T0 CARD DISIILAY, INC., A.

Y CORPORATION OF NEW YORKy CARD DISPLAY Application filed May 15, 1929. Serial No. 363,125.

The device of the present invention while capable of a wide range of embodiment was primarily designed as an improvement over the card display disclosed in my copending l application Serial No. 358,248 filed April 26,

It will be recalled that objects ofthe invention of the prior application were to provide a decorative self supporting display frame for price cards of the character commonly used in large quantities on the coun ters of department stores or the like, and to provide a temporary cap piece self sustaining in applied position on tlie`frame, and

adapted to bear decorative matter appropriate to the season, whereby the frames might be suitably dressed for seasonal events without the need for printing special signs' for such occasions.

The device of the present invention not only fulfills all of the above objects, but is further concerned with the provisions of a decorative cap member of substantial construction and luxurious appearance which, when applied to the frame, will appear to be an integral part thereof. The cap piece is preferably itself in the knature of' a sup'- plemental frame for a supplemental card member which may display indicia appropriate to a particular store-wide or departmental sale or annual event. It may optionally be used to permanently dress the main frame and, whenvno special events are in progress carry a card of conventional design having perhaps no special significance, or bearing for instance, the name yof the particular department on the .countersy of which it is displayed. v

The device of the present invention 1s particularly adapted for use in the better class department stores,` Where it will harmonize with the more elegant fixtures and appurtenances usuallyy found therein. The

frames are less readily damaged than-the i fragile capper cards of my prior application,

they are not subject to breakage or soiling by the careless handling of clerks and they are much less apt to tumble out of place and due to the carelessnessnor stupidity ofthe store employees find their way to wrong price `card frames.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a "display device of extremely simple and practical construction which will be rugged, durable and efficient in use, attractive in appearance and Wellsuited to meet lthe requirements of economical manufacture and convenient manipulation.

With the above noted and other objects in View', the invention yconsists in certain novel Fig. Bis a vertical sectional detail on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. e Fig. 4 is transverse sectional detail on the line 1 -t of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the cap frame itself showing the card which it carries partially removed. n

In they drawings the reference numeral 10 designates an vopen rectangular frame, of

rlight ygauge-metal or another suitable material, supported tin 'upright position upon a" suitable Apedestal 11. The lower cross bar and the sides of the frameare internally channeled as at 12 and the top of the frame is provided with a slot 14 through which sign cards may beinserted, the edges ofI these cards lying in the channels.

The' card 13 is of any suitable typesuch for instance as that disclosed in the Bloomingdale Patent No. 1,653,033, and in the ordinary course of use two of the sign cards are inserted back to back, the channels vand, slot being wide enough to readily accommodate them. n y

The decorative cap'rframe 1 5 may also be of generally rectangular shape and of light gauge metal with interior card receiving channels 16 to support a card 17 and with a slot 18 in its top to admit the card into the frame. Card 17 will ordinarily bear either printed or graphic indicia such as 19 relating to a seasonal or special event to be advertised.

The cards and cap frame, however, may be used as more or less permanent decorations for the main frames at all times and the card 17 may carry ornamental or advertising material of any appropriate type, such for instance as a department name serving as a guide to the customer.

The cap frame is of no greater (and usually less) thickness than the main frame 10, but is of greater thickness than the width of slot 14, whereby the latter is concealed. Usually thecap frame is of a length less than the length of slot 14 and the ends of the latter are hidden under the flat bottoms of decorative shoulder pieces 25 secured to a projection from the sides of the cap frame. The bottoms of these corner pieces preferably lie flush. with and serve as extensions ofthe bot tom of the cap frame. Screws 26 or other suitable, and preferably concealed, securing devices, vattach the shoulder pieces to the cap frame. i y

A centering and antitilting keel member, usually a downwardly tapering thin metal plate 2() is pendent from the frame 15 and is adapted to enter the slot 14 and lie in concealed position between the cards 13.

Many expedients might be resorted for effect-ing attachment of the keel to the cap frame. 'I have shown one method of attachment which serves to lock the frame, the shoulder pieces and the keel together in a unitary manner. `The upper edgeof the keel is formed with extensions or tongues 21 and 22 entering snugly into slots or notches 21a, 22a in the under faces of the shoulder pieces and cap frame respectively. One or both sets of tongues may be either friction fitted, or retained by screws 23 or otherwise firmly held in position. y This construction is especially effective to prevent twisting or turning of the shoulder pieces about the screws 26 as centers.

Inasmuch as the keel [its rather snugly "between'the two sign cards, this keel or rib 'engages the rear faces'of the cards and 1t "tends to hold these cards and the cap piece against rattling or against falling out of place even though the frame be inverted 1n lcarrying, and accomplishes this result with- H'out injury to the cards.

'The' particular shape of the cap frame is subijectof course to a wide range of variations but it is preferablyiof a shape which harmonizes with the general shape of the frame 10 and which when in place does not destroy the "symmetry of the display. Cap frames having bodies of triangular, semi-circular, rectangular or trapezoidal formation are all quite effective in use.

By tapering the keels no feeling7 about is necessary to properly aline them. with the slot and the keels automatically guide the cap pieces into properly centered home position.

lVhen a number of the displays are mounted on a counter or on the display tables in a 'department store and properly dressed with The cap frames being of such simple and f' inexpensive type may be readily stored away for future use after they have served their purpose and the need. for revising, or reprinting all of the price cards and other advertising matter on the counters during a i special sale or season is entirely avoided.

It will thus be seen that there is herein described an article in which the several fea.- tures of this invention are embodied, and which in service attains the various objects of the invention and is well suited to meet the requirements of practical use.

As many changes could be made in the fait above construction, and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall4 be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent of the United States of America, ,j

1. A display' device including a pedestal and an openlrame supported m upright position thereon, said frame including a top piece having a slot therein through which a sign Vcard may be inserted and being .mternally channeled for the reception of the card, in combination with a reinovableded orative frame constitutingja cap piece resting upon the top of the frame and including a pendant keel adapted to enter the slot, and engaging one face of the card.

2. In a display device a sign and a frame therefor, the frame including a top cross bar having a slot extending therethrough, a decorative cap frame resting upon the lupper edge of the first mentioned frame adapted to removably receive a. sign card and including a pendant keel lying in the slot, and engaging one face ofsaid sign card.

3. A display device of the character dell'li scribed including a Jframe having a slot in its top and a pair of oppositely facing sign cards of no greater width than the slot mounted back to back in the frame, a decorative cap frame of a width greater than the width of the slot resting upon the top of the frame and including a retaining keel to prevent tilting, extending through the slot and lying between the sign cards.

4:. A display device of the character described including a frame having a slot in its top and a pair of oppositely facing sign cards of no greater width than the slot mounted back to back in the frame, a decorative cap frame of a Width greater than the width of the slot resting upon the top of the frame and including an anti-tilting keel eX- tending through the slot and lying between the sign cards, said keel at its point of junction with the body of the cap frame being of a width approximately equal to the length of the slot and tapering toward itsfree end to provide inclined guiding edges. l

5. A display device including a main selfsupporting frame and a cap frame adapted to be removably mounted thereupon, the

main frame having interior channels and a slot in its upper edge to support and admit a sign card and the cap frame including a centering and anti-tilting keel portion entering the slot in the top of the main frame, and engaging the rear face of the sign card.

6. A display device including a main selfsupporting frame and a cap frame adapted to be removably mounted thereupon, the main frame having interior channels and a slot in its upper edge to support and admit a sign card and the cap frame including a centering and anti-tilting keel portion entering the slot in the top of the main frame and engaging the rear face of the sign card, the cap frame being of greater thickness than the slot whereby it rests upon the main Jframe at opposite sides of the slot.

7 A display device including a main selfsupporting frame and a frame adapted to be removably mounted thereupon, the main iframe having interior channels and a slot in its upper edge to support and admit a sign card and the cap frame including a centering and anti-tilting keel portion entering the slot in the top of the main frame and engaging the rear face of the sign card, the cap frame being of greater thickness than the slot whereby it rests upon the main frame at opposite sides of the slot, and including shoulder portions beyond the ends of the keel resting on the top of the main frame beyond the ends of the slot whereby the seat is concealed when the cap frame is in place.

8. A display device of the character described, including a frame having a slot in its top and a sign card inserted through the slot and mounted in the frame, and a decorative cap frame of a width greater than the 9. A display device of the character def scribed, including a frame having a slot in its top, a sign card inserted through the slot and engaged by said frame, a decorative cap frame of width greater than the width of the slot resting on top of the frame, and including an anti-tilting keel extending through the slot and engaging the rear face of the card, said keel at its junction with the cap frame being of a length approximately equal to the length of the slot and tapering at its ends to provide inclined guarding edges.

10. A display device comprising a pair of vertically arranged superposed frames, the bottom edge of the upper frame resting upon the upper edge of the lower, which has a slottherein along its upper edge, the upper frame having an external rib secured to its lower edge to project into said slot and snugly engage the rear face of a sign card therein, to hold said card irmly in said lower frame and to keep the upper frame in place.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 14th day of May, A. D. 1929.

FRANKLIN LAMB. 

